INTRODUCTORY NOTE

BY

MR OLIPHANT,

CONVENER OF THE COMMITTEE.

ABOUT twenty years ago, in the exercise of my professional duties, accident enabled me to restore a society whose name and existence had been nearly forgotten, viz. the Incorporation of Sailors of Prestonpans, and to replace the seamen of that town in the possession of their funds. The earlier records of this Society were lost, and those recovered did not contain their laws; the Court of Session directed new regulations to be framed, and submitted for their approval; and the task of framing these devolved on

me.

Some difficulty was experienced in apportioning the allowances to be made in future to the revenue of the society. The Revenue was to be derived from two sources; 1st, The interest of a capital of about L. 500; and, 2d, Such annual contributions as the seamen could afford. The late Reverend Mr Wilkie of Cults, a writer upon annuities, and the father of the celebrated painter, had the goodness to report upon the subject: but the contri

VOL. VI.

S

butions, as proposed by Mr Wilkie, were higher, and the allowances lower, than those of neighbouring Friendly Societies; and much difficulty was felt in persuading the seamen of the propriety of the scheme proposed; the amount of capital accumulated by neighbouring boxes* decidedly out-weighing, in their consideration, every other authority.

One seaman, who had been in three society-boxes, all of which had failed, exercised considerable influence in repressing the desire of his brethren for high allowances; and finally matters were arranged on a medium between the scheme of Mr Wilkie and the practice of the neighbouring societies. Mr Wilkie had stated the impossibility of establishing accurate calculations for Friendly Societies' schemes, till the average rate of sickness among mankind should be ascertained. He proceeded on the supposition that one-twelfth part of the members would be constantly sick. This proportion, according to the experience of the Society, has proved too high; for, notwithstanding the allowances established are higher than those proposed by Mr Wilkie, the society now possesses a revenue of L. 50 a-year from land purchased, and a small sum laid out at interest; and, calculating by the Tables subjoined, it is found to be in a condition to fulfil its present engagements for sick allowances, funeral money, wi

This word is used in Scotland to denote the Funds of a Society, sometimes the Society itself. Thus, we say the Trades Box, the Poors' Box, &c.

dows' pensions, and aids to orphans. On the other hand, the affairs of the neighbouring societies, whose example was recommended as a guide, have fallen into disorder.

More recently, while residing in the country, having been requested by the members of a Friendly Society in a neighbouring village, who had taken alarm from the decline of their stock, to advise what increase of contribution might be held adequate to secure the permanence of their scheme, the practical inconvenience resulting from a want of knowledge of the probable rate of sickness was again pressed on my attention; and the impression was strengthened by previous observation of the distress resulting from the miscalculation of Friendly Society schemes, and by the recent hardship arising to a meritorious individual, who, after having been 40 years a contributor to a box, without having ever drawn any allowance, had become bedrid; and, by the shutting of the box, being left destitute, was reduced to pauperism and to dependence on the charity of the parish.

At a conference with Mr Smith of Deanston, and with Mr Maclaren and Mr Beattie, the very intelligent Directors of the Deanston Society, whose questions I had been unable to answer satisfactorily, the propriety of a public inquiry to ascertain the average rate of sickness was suggested. Many were better qualified than myself to take the lead in such an inquiry; but not being able to prevail with any of the gentlemen to whom I applied for this purpose, I ventured, though indeed with much hesitation, to

bring forward a notice of the case in the Highland Society, with an humble suggestion that this Society should agree to offer premiums to Friendly Societies for returns of the ages of their members, and the sickness corresponding to those ages: The motion being adopted, a committee was appointed to conduct the inquiry.

The motion, as originally made, was merely to obtain certain data, leaving their application to others; but the motion ultimately adopted being declared to be for "enabling the Highland Society to suggest a remedy" for the evils consequent on the erroneous constitution of Friendly Societies, it became necessary to exhibit the application of the data, if obtained.

A schedule of the information wanted, and an exemplification of a method of supplying it, both of which were arranged by Mr Alexander Will, of the Customs, having been circulated throughout Scotland, numerous and elaborate returns from Friendly Societies of the ages and sickness of their members were received; and Mr John Lyon, Governor of Watson's Hospital, after examining and digesting these returns, has had the goodness to institute computations, applying the knowledge thus obtained to the schemes of Friendly Societies.

The Committee has been favoured with communications from many gentlemen who took an interest in the inquiry; and particular acknowledgments are due for those received from Thomas Peregrine Courtenay, Esq. M. P. Secretary to the India

Board of Controul; Dr Hamilton of Aberdeen; the Reverend Dr Henry Duncan of Ruthwell; Patrick Cockburn, Esq. Accountant in Edinburgh; and Mr James Skirving, of the Stamp-office, Edinburgh.

Having been induced, by the circumstances above related, to move for the inquiry, and, as Convener of the Committee, having given my attention to the conduct of its details, my duty brought me forward, (according to ordinary usage), to state its results; it being proper that there should not be wanting some personal assurance that reasonable pains have been taken to avoid error.

EDINBURGH, March 12, 1824.